SANTA CRUZ IS OPENING UP ITS GATES. TODAY THE COMMUNITY WAS INVITED TO EXPLORE THE GARDENS. GIVING US A TOUR AND WITH THE IMPACT THE PROGRAM IS MAKING IN THE LIVES OF HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN: HERE'S ACTION NEWS REPORTER TOM MILLER LIVE IN SANTA CRUZ. ### THIS GARDEN IS 3.5 ACRES SITTING BACK JUST OFF THE OCEAN HERE ON SANTA CRUZ'S WEST SIDE. WHILE THERE'S THE OBVIOUS GOAL OF GROWING GOOD CROPS THE PROGRAM IS ALSO AIMED AT GIVING HOMELESS PEOPLE THE SKILLS AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO GO LAND A JOB AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET. ROWS OF COLORFUL FLOWERS AND HEARTY VEGETABLES SPROUT OF FROM THE HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT'S SOIL BUT IT'S THE PEOPLE HERE WHO GIVE IT LIFE. 15:57 It's probably one of the funnest jobs I've ever had, I actually look forward to it 16:00 RAVEN PLAYFAIRE WAS HOMELESS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS BEFORE THE GARDEN TOOK HER UNDER ITS WING OFFERING HER A PAYING JOB AND IN TURN A PLACE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. 16:42 because I got this job in February I was able to start paying rent 16:47 RAVEN IS ONE OF 15 TRAINEES EMPLOYED BY HGP ALL STARTED OUT HOMELESS AND LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT. 3:40 The work that we're doing here is very visible and very tangible so people can see, when I work hard I have really good results 3:47 31:48 Here at the homeless garden project they're growing more than 40 different varieties of flowers and more than 40 different types of vegitables 31:55 FARM MANAGER CHRIS OMER OVERSEES IT ALL HIS FAVORITE SPOT... THE DRY SHED... A COLLECTION OF FLOWERS AIRING OUT BEFORE THEY'RE SOLD. 14:04 We'll harvest flowers out in the field and we'll bundle them and then we'll come in here and we'll hang them 14:10 IN A COMMUNITY MADE UP OF MORE THAN 35-HUNDRED HOMELESS PEOPLE.. HGP BELIEVES IT'S DEVELOPED A WINNING FORMULA TO HELP PEOPLE FLOURISH LIKE THE GARDEN AROUND THEM. 10:50 You see a lot of personal development but also professional development 10:54 DURING FARMFEST... A COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE HERE... RAVEN LEADS A TOUR THROUGH THE GARDENS. NAT 20:29 this is the first time I've ever had a vocation that I could actually look forward to into retirement 20:34 SHE'S HOPES THE NEW SKILLS WILL HELP HER LAND A JOB AT A FLOWER SHOP OR NURSERY A MAJOR LIFE TURN AROUND KEEPING HER OFF THE STREETS FOR GOOD. FARMFEST ALSO KICKS OFF THE START OF THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROGRAM... IN ORDER TO PAY FOR ITSELF THE GARDEN SELLS PRODUCE PACKAGES WITH ALL THE VEGITABLES YOU COULD WANT...YOU PICK THEM UP HERE ONCE A WEEK... AND THAT'S GOING TO START UP AGAIN ON MAY 30TH. THE HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT ALSO DONATES PRODUCE TO NINE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. TO HELP PAY FOR THAT THAT'S CURRENTLY FUNDRAISING ... IF YOU'D